Polarized light propagation through scattering media: time-resolved Monte Carlo simulations and experiments.

A study of polarized light transmitted through randomly scattering media of a polystyrene-microsphere solution is described. Temporal profiles of the Stokes vectors and the degree of polarization are measured experimentally and calculated theoretically based on a Monte Carlo technique. The experimental results match the theoretical results well, which demonstrates that the time-resolved Monte Carlo technique is a powerful tool that can contribute to the understanding of polarization propagation in biological tissue. Analysis based on the Stokes-Mueller formalism and the Mie theory shows that the first scattering event determines the major spatial patterns of the transmitted Stokes vectors. When an area detected at the output surface of a turbid medium is circularly symmetrical about the incident beam, the temporal profile of the transmitted light is independent of the incident polarization state. A linear relationship between the average order of the scatters and the light propagation time can be used to explain the exponential decay of the degree of polarization of transmitted light.

[1]  K Wada,et al.  Extraction of quasi-straightforward-propagating photons from diffused light transmitting through a scattering medium by polarization modulation. , 1995, Optics letters.

[2]  Schmitt,et al.  Depolarization of multiply scattered waves by spherical diffusers: Influence of the size parameter. , 1994, Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics.

[3]  M. Hartmann,et al.  Light scattering by small particles. Von H. C. VANDE HULST. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1981. Paperback, 470 S., 103 Abb. und 46 Tab., US $ 7.50 , 1984 .

[4]  Amrit Ambirajan.  Multiple scattering of a polarized laser beam , 1997 .

[5]  G. Kattawar,et al.  Theoretical analysis of polarization patterns from incoherent backscattering of light. , 1998, Applied optics.

[6]  Yury P. Sinichkin,et al.  Ultimate degree of residual polarization of incoherently backscattered light for multiple scattering of linearly polarized light , 2001 .

[7]  G. Jonusauskas,et al.  Real-time two-dimensional imaging in scattering media by use of a femtosecond Cr(4+):forsterite laser. , 2000, Optics letters.

[8]  A H Hielscher,et al.  Monte Carlo simulations of the diffuse backscattering mueller matrix for highly scattering media. , 2000, Applied optics.

[9]  J. Walsh,et al.  Polarization discrimination of coherently propagating light in turbid media. , 1999, Applied optics.

[10]  L V Wang,et al.  Light backscattering polarization patterns from turbid media: theory and experiment. , 1999, Applied optics.

[11]  L. Wang,et al.  Propagation of polarized light in birefringent turbid media: time-resolved simulations. , 2001, Optics express.

[12]  M D Duncan,et al.  Time-gated imaging through scattering media using stimulated Raman amplification. , 1991, Optics letters.

[13]  P. Georges,et al.  Video rate depth-resolved two-dimensional imaging through turbid media by femtosecond parametric amplification. , 2000, Optics letters.

[14]  R R Alfano,et al.  Imaging of a translucent object hidden in a highly scattering medium from the early portion of the diffuse component of a transmitted ultrafast laser pulse. , 1992, Optics letters.

[15]  A Hielscher,et al.  Diffuse backscattering Mueller matricesof highly scattering media. , 1997, Optics express.

[16]  S. Morgan,et al.  Effects of polarization state and scatterer concentration on optical imaging through scattering media. , 1997, Applied optics.

[17]  H. V. Hulst.  Light Scattering by Small Particles , 1957 .

[18]  Y. Kiang,et al.  Polarization gating in ultrafast-optics imaging of skeletal muscle tissues. , 2001, Optics letters.

[19]  L Wang,et al.  MCML--Monte Carlo modeling of light transport in multi-layered tissues. , 1995, Computer methods and programs in biomedicine.

[20]  B. Wilson,et al.  Time resolved reflectance and transmittance for the non-invasive measurement of tissue optical properties. , 1989, Applied optics.

[21]  R R Alfano,et al.  Temporal gating in highly scattering media by the degree of optical polarization. , 1996, Optics letters.

[22]  L Wang,et al.  Propagation of polarized light in turbid media: simulated animation sequences. , 2000, Optics express.

[23]  Dwight C. Look,et al.  A backward Monte Carlo study of the multiple scattering of a polarized laser beam , 1997 .

[24]  J. Schmitt,et al.  Use of polarized light to discriminate short-path photons in a multiply scattering medium. , 1992, Applied optics.

[25]  A backward Monte Carlo estimator for the multiple scattering of a narrow light beam , 1996 .

[26]  R. Alfano,et al.  Ballistic 2-D Imaging Through Scattering Walls Using an Ultrafast Optical Kerr Gate , 1991, Science.